28-05-2025 | In an op-ed published in Dutch newspaper ‘Trouw‘, Codam’s managing director Maarten Naaijkens delivers a compelling critique of our outdated educational system. His article, titled “Frans, Latijn: waardevol, zeker. Maar waar blijven de lessen over AI?” exposes the stark contradiction between students’ digital reality and classroom instruction.

While teenagers effortlessly navigate TikTok algorithms and AI chatbots, their formal education remains anchored in centuries-old traditions. Why do programming languages and AI literacy remain optional when they’re fundamental to understanding our modern world?

The Case for Digital-First Learning

The article explains how subjects like French gained prominence in the 19th century as the language of the elite, while German earned its place through science and commerce. Post-World War II Europe used language education as a symbol of peace, creating an almost sacred status for these traditional subjects.

While understandable, this legacy has become problematic. If you compare classical and programming languages, both require syntactic understanding, logical thinking, and the ability to grasp complex structures. The key difference? Programming languages lack the centuries of tradition that have elevated Latin and Greek to untouchable status in our educational hierarchy.

Time for Educational Revolution

This does not have to be. A fair question by a student resonates: “Why must we always adapt to the system, but the system never adapts to us?” It encapsulates the central tension in our current education.

For full article (in Dutch), go to “Opinie: Frans, Latijn: waardevol, zeker. Maar waar blijven de lessen over AI?”